RIZAL Chapter7-Paris to Berlin

Thursday, November 25, 2010

vRizal went to Paris and Germany in order to specialize in ophthalmology.

ØHe chose this branch because he wanted to cure his mother’s eye ailment.

In Gay Paris (1885-86)

vAfter studying at the Central University of Madrid, Rizal, who was then 24 yrs old, went to Paris to acquire more knowledge in ophthalmology.

vMaximo Viola – a medical student and a member of a rich family of San Miguel, Bulacan

vSeñor Eusebio Corominas – editor of La Publicidad

vDon Miguel Morayta – owner of La Publicidad and a statesman

vRizal gave Editor Corominas (an article on the Carolines Question)

vNovember 1885 – Rizal was living in Paris

§He worked as an assistant to Dr. Louis de Weckert, a leading French ophthalmologist.

vJuan Luna – great master of the brush; Rizal helped him by posing as model in Luna’s paintings.

1.“The Death of Cleopatra” – where Rizal posed as an Egyptian priest

2.“The Blood Compact” – Rizal posed as Sikatuna

Rizal as Musician

vRizal had no natural aptitude for music, and this he admitted. He studied music only because many of his schoolmates at Ateneo were taking music lessons.

vHe told Enrique Lete that he “learned the solfeggio, piano, and voice culture in one month and a half”.

vHe is also a flutist.

vSome of his compositions are:

§Alin Mang Lahi (Any Race) – a pariotic song which asserts that any race aspires for freedom

§La Deportacion (Deportation) – a sad danza, composed in Dapitan

In Historic Heidelberg

vFebruary 3, 1886 – Rizal arrived in Heidelberg, a historic city in Germany famous for its old university and romantics surroundings.

vHe became popular among the Germans because they found out that he was a good chess player.

vHe worked at the University Eye Hospital under the direction of Dr. Otto Becker, distinguished German ophthalmologist.

“To the Flowers of Heidelberg”

vApril 22, 1886 – Rizal wrote a fine poem entitled “A Las Flores de Heidelberg” (To the Flowers of Heidelberg) because he was fascinated by the blooming flowers along the Neckar River, which is the light blue flower called “forget-me-not”.

With Pastor Ullmer at Wilhelmsfeld

vRizal spent a three-month summer vacation at Wilhelmsfeld where he stayed at the place of a Protestant pastor, Dr. Karl Ullmer. The pastor has a wife and two children named Etta and Fritz.

First Letter to Blumentritt

vJuly 31, 1886 – Rizal wrote his first letter to Professor Ferdinand Blumentritt who is the Director of the Ateneo of Leitmeritz, Austria.

§Blumentritt is an Austrian ethnologist and he has an interest in the Philippine language.

vRizal sent Aritmetica (Arithmetic) book to Blumentritt which was published in 2 languages – Spanish and Tagalog – by the University of Santo Tomas Press in 1868. The author was Rufino Baltazar Hernandez.

vBlumentritt became the best friend of Rizal.

Fifth Centenary of Heidelberg University

vThe famous University of Heidelberg held its fifth centenary celebration on August 6, 1886 where Rizal had witnessed the said celebration.

In Leipzig and Dresden

vAugust 14, 1886 – Rizal arrived in Leipzig

vHe attended some lectures at the University of Leipzig on history and psychology.

vRizal found out that the cost of living in Leipzig was the cheapest in Europe so he stayed for 2 months and a half.

vOn October 29, he went to Dresden, where he met Dr. Adolph B. Meyer, the Director of the Anthropological and Ethnological Museum.

Rizal Welcomed in Berlin’s Scientific Circles

vRizal was enchanted by Berlin because of its scientific atmosphere and the absence of race prejudice.

vSome scientists Rizal met are:

§Dr. Feodor Jagor – German scientist-traveler and author of Travels in the Philippines

§Dr. Rudolf Virchow – famous German anthropologist

§Dr. W. Joest – German geographer

§Dr. Karl Ernest Schweigger – famous German ophthalmologist

Rizal’s Life in Berlin

vFive reasons why Rizal stayed in Berlin:

ØTo gain further knowledge of ophthalmology

ØTo further his studies of science and languages

ØTo observe the economic and political conditions of the German nation

ØTo associate with famous German scientists and scholars

ØTo publish his novel, Noli Me Tangere

vRizal worked as an assistant in the clinic of Dr. Scweigger, and at night, he attended lectures in the University of Berlin.

vHe also took private lessons in French under Madame Lucie Cerdole.

Rizal on German Women

vRizal sent a letter to his sister, Trinidad, dated on March 11, 1886. In his letter, Rizal expressed his high regard and admiration for German womanhood. Rizal said that German woman is serious, diligent, educated and friendly.

German Customs

vSome of the German customs Rizal admired:

ØOn Yuletide season, people will select a pine tree from the bushes and adorned it with lanterns, papers, lights, dolls, candies, fruits, etc.

ØSelf-introduction to strangers in a social gathering.

Rizal’s Darkest Winter

vThe winter of 1886 in Berlin was his darkest winter.

vHe lived in poverty because no money arrived from Calamba and he was flat broke.